Kaviyoor Ponnamma is a Malayalam film actress. She won the Kerala

Kerala

or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 State Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1994.

Ponnamma was born in Kaviyoor

Kaviyoor

Kaviyoor is a small village, appearing in history books as one of the ancient 64 Brahmin settlements of Kerala. It is located on the western bank of the river Manimala in the taluk of Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, India. It is a highly literate village...

 village, near Tiruvalla

Tiruvalla

Tiruvalla , is a city and a Taluk headquarters located in Pathanamthitta district in the State of Kerala in South India, spread over an area of 27.94 km2...

 to a conservative upper-class family. She had to face many hardships from the conservative Hindu society in Kaviyoor during her initial life as they were opposed to women from Hindu families taking up acting as a career. She has mainly acted as a mother figure to most of the Malayalam actors. She is sometimes referred to as "Mohanlal's Mother" because she has acted as his mother in a many of movies. The mother-son role of Mohanlal

Mohanlal

Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair , known mononymously as Mohanlal , is a National Award-winning Indian actor, producer, singer and writer who is well known for his versatile and natural acting in Indian cinema & hence widely known as the Universal Star...

-Ponnamma has been accepted well by the audience.

We do not feel that we are acting and we do not plan. Reactions come spontaneously.

The name Kaviyoor Ponnamma brings to mind a comforting mother, dressed mostly in white saree. Few in this generation know that she has acted as the mother of Satyan and Madhu

Madhu (actor)

Madhavan Nair , commonly known by his stage name Madhu is an actor in Malayalam cinema. He was a prominent lead actor during the 60s and 70s. He has also directed and produced films, and at one time he owned Uma film studio.-Early life:...

, many decades back. The movie was Thommande Makkal. Although younger than Thilakan

Thilakan

Surendranatha Thilakan , known mononymously as Thilakan, is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam cinema and theatre. He was awarded Padma Shri on 25 January 2009.- Theatre:...

, she had acted as Thilakan

Thilakan

Surendranatha Thilakan , known mononymously as Thilakan, is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam cinema and theatre. He was awarded Padma Shri on 25 January 2009.- Theatre:...

's mother in Periyar. The actress says about Ponnamma-Thilakan

Thilakan

Surendranatha Thilakan , known mononymously as Thilakan, is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam cinema and theatre. He was awarded Padma Shri on 25 January 2009.- Theatre:...

 combination:

People used to love our combination and I used to get many letters appreciating the roles'

She has acted with Prem Nazir

Prem Nazir

Abdul Khader , better known by his stage name Prem Nazir , was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema...

, Sathyan

Sathyaneshan Nadar

Manuel Sathyaneshan Nadar commonly known by his stage name Sathyan, was an Indian film actor known for his work in Malayalam cinema. He has won the Kerala State Film Award twice and is renowned for his acting skills...

, Madhu

Madhu (actor)

Madhavan Nair , commonly known by his stage name Madhu is an actor in Malayalam cinema. He was a prominent lead actor during the 60s and 70s. He has also directed and produced films, and at one time he owned Uma film studio.-Early life:...

, Jayan

Jayan

Krishnan Nair , better known by his stage name Jayan , was an Indian film actor, former sailor, stunt performer and 1970s style icon. He worked in Malayalam cinema, a sector of the Indian movie industry...

, Soman

M. G. Soman

M. G. Soman was an actor in Malayalam film. He was considered to be one of the superstars in Malayalam cinema along with Sukumaran and Jayan during the 1970s. He was born in Tiruvalla, Travancore...

, Sukumaran

Sukumaran

Edappal Ponnamkuzhi Veettil Sukumaran Nair , popularly known as Sukumaran, was an Indian film actor, and producer....

, Vincent

Vincent (actor)

Vincent was an Indian actor from Kerala. He was active during 1970s and 80's and acted in about 130 Malayalam films, many of them as leading actor. He was a romantic hero of his time....

, Raghavan, Mammootty

Mammootty

Mammootty is an Indian film actor and producer who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir in the number of lead roles...

, Mohanlal

Mohanlal

Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair , known mononymously as Mohanlal , is a National Award-winning Indian actor, producer, singer and writer who is well known for his versatile and natural acting in Indian cinema & hence widely known as the Universal Star...

, Suresh Gopi

Suresh Gopi

Suresh Gopinathan Nair , often credited as Suresh Gopi , is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Malayalam cinema; he is famous for his roles in police dramas. He is noted for his leading roles as much as his character roles...

, Jayaram

Jayaram

Jayaram is an Indian film actor who mainly acts in Malayalam and Tamil films. He is also a chenda percussionist and mimic artist. In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contribution towards the arts.-Early life:...

, Dileep

Dileep (actor)

Dileep is an Indian film actor, mimicry artist and producer best known for his work in Malayalam cinema.Dileep started his career as a mimicry artist in the Cochin Kalabhavan troupe. He later started his film career as an assistant director to Kamal with the film Vishnu Lokam...

 and Prithviraj

Prithviraj Sukumaran

Prithviraj Sukumaran credited mononymously as Prithviraj, is an Indian film actor and producer best known for his work in Malayalam cinema....

.

She has done a tele-film directed by Viji Thamby for Amritha TV.

Early life

As a five-year-old, she learnt music and used to sing in stage shows. She did not see many movies. She started acting in dramas when she was 14 year old, starting off with Mooladhanam of Thoppil Bhasi

Thoppil Bhasi

Thoppil Bhasi was a Malayalam playwright, screenwriter, and film director. He was associated with the communist movement in Kerala and his play Ningalenne Communistakki is considered to be a groundbreaking event in the history of Malayalam theatre.Thoppil Bhasi was born in Vallikunnam, a small...

. After five years, came her first movie Kudumbini, in which she did the title role of the mother of two kids.

Personal life

Having stayed at Chennai

Chennai

Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...

 for 37 years, Ponnamma is now settled in Aluva. Her husband M.K. Mani was a film producer. Their daughter is now in Chennai

Chennai

Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...

 and son-in-law a professor at the Michigan University.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards:

• Second Best Actress
  Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress
  The Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress winners:-References:**...
  
   - 1971 - Different films
• Second Best Actress
  Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress
  The Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress winners:-References:**...
  
   - 1972 - Theertha Yathra
• Second Best Actress
  Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress
  The Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress winners:-References:**...
  
   - 1973 - Different films
• Second Best Actress
  Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress
  The Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress winners:-References:**...
  
   - 1994 - Thenmavin Kombathu

Filmography

1. Twenty:20 (2008)
2. Mission 90 Days
   Mission 90 Days
   Mission 90 Days is a 2007 Malayalam film by Major Ravi starring Mammooty. It is Major Ravi's second directorial venture and is based on the assassination of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and the following investigation.-Cast:...
   
    (2007)
3. Anchil Oral Arjunan (2007)
4. Baba Kalyani
   Baba Kalyani
   Babasaheb Neelkanth Kalyani is an Indian businessman who serves as the chairman and managing director of Bharat Forge, the flagship company of the Kalyani Group and the world's second-largest forgings manufacturer after ThyssenKrupp of Germany....
   
    (2006) .... Kalyaniyamma
5. Aanachandam
   Aanachandam
   Aanachandam is a Malayalam language film. It was released in 2006.Aanachandam movie is all baout Krishna Prasad who is crazy about elephants. When he was a ten-year old child his father had taken him to the village temple to attend the festival...
   
    (2006)
6. Vadakkum Nathan
   Vadakkum Nathan
   This is the last movie work of the music maestro Raveendran master. The lyrics were penned by Gireesh Puthenchery. The songs are still on the top of chartbusters....
   
    (2006) .... Rugmavathi Amma
7. Maampazhakkaalam
   Maampazhakkaalam
   Mampazhakkalam is a 2004 Malayalam family film by Joshi starring Mohanlal and Shobana.-Plot:Puramanayil Chandran was working in the Gulf countries and he returns after the death of his father. He was taking care of his big family including mother and younger brothers. Chandran still loved his...
   
    (2004) .... Lakshmi
8. Natturajavu
   Natturajavu
   Natturajavu is a 2004 release Malayalam film directed by Shaji Kailas. It stars Mohanlal, Meena, Nayantara, Kalabhavan Mani, Cochin Haneefa, K.P.A.C Lalitha, and Siddique in supporting roles.-Plot:...
   
    (2004) .... Charlie's Mother
9. Runway (2004) .... Bharathiyamma
10. Vismayathumbathu (2004) .... Sreekumar's Mother
11. Njaan Salperu Raman Kutty (2004)
12. Pattanathil Sundaran (2003) .... Bhavaniyamma
13. Ammakilikkoodu (2003) .... Marykutty Teacher
14. Hariharan Pillai Happy Aanu (2003) .... Padmavathiyamma
15. Mr. Brahmachari
    Mr. Brahmachari
    Mr. Brahmachari is an Indian film in malayalam language by Thulasidas starring Mohanlal and Meena Durairaj.-Cast:-Plot:Ananthan Thampy is a middle aged man who has decided never to marry in his life. He thinks he will lose all his youthfulness and manly looks by marriage. His main hobby is body...
    
     (2003) .... Ananthan Thampi's Mother
16. Nandanam (2002) .... Unni Amma
17. Uthaman (2001)
18. Kakkakuyil
    Kakkakuyil
    Kakkakuyil is a Malayalam film co-produced, written, and directed by Priyadarshan starring Mohanlal and Mukesh in the lead roles. The film received mixed reviews upon release and became a box office flop. The storyline of the film was inspired by the 1988 Hollywood film A Fish Called Wanda...
    
     (2001) .... Sethu Lakshmi Bhai 'Thampuratty'
19. Arayannegalude Veedu (2000) .... Lakshmi

1990s

1. Ezhupunna Tharakan (1999) .... Kunjannamma
2. The Godman (1999) .... Amarnath's Mother
3. Pallavur Devanarayanan (1999) .... Bhageerathi
4. Amma Ammayiamma (1998) .... Sarada
5. Poothiruvathiranalil (1998)
6. Snehasindhooram (1997)
7. Karma (1995)
8. Mannar Mathai Speaking
   Mannar Mathai Speaking
   Mannar Mathai Speaking is a 1995 Malayalam comedy film made in India, written by Siddique-Lal, produced and directed by Mani. C. Kappan, and starring Mukesh, Saikumar and Innocent. It is the sequel to Ramji Rao Speaking . Priyadarshan adapted certain subplots of the film for his Hindi film, Bhagam...
   
    (1995) .... Meera's Mother
9. Sadaram (1995) .... Bhanumathi
10. Bheesmacharya (1994) .... Ponnutty
11. Kudumba Visesham (1994) .... Bharathi
12. Vatsalyam (1993) .... Janakiyamma
13. Kavadiyattam (1993) .... Sethulakshmi
14. Samagamam (1993) .... Annakutty
15. Vietnam Colony (1993) .... Parvathiyammal
16. Pappayude Swantham Appoos (1992)
17. Mahanagaram (1992) .... Viswanathan's Mother
18. Aparahnam (1991) .... Janakiyamma
19. Apoorvam Chilar (1991) .... Sarojam
20. Bharatham (1991)
21. Dhanam (1991)
22. Pookkalam Varavayi (1991) .... Nandan's Mother
23. Sandesam (1991) .... Bhanumathi
24. Ulladakkam (1991) .... Sunny's Mother
25. Oliyampukal (1990) .... Baby's Mother
26. Midhya (1990) .... Rajagopal's Mother
27. His Highness Abdullah (1990) .... Bhageerathi
28. In Harihar Nagar
    In Harihar Nagar
    In Harihar Nagar is a 1990 Malayalam comedy film written and directed by the duo Siddique-Lal. It stars Mukesh, Siddique, Jagadish and Ashokan in major roles. The film became one of the biggest hits in Malayalam film history and has a dedicated cult following...
    
     (1990) .... Andrew's Mother
29. Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom (1990) .... Vinayachandran's Mother
30. Rajavazhcha (1990) .... Naniyamma

1980s

1. Dasharatham (1989) .... Chandradas' Mother
2. Devadas (1989) .... Devadas' Mother
3. Jaathakam (1989) .... Janaki
4. Kireedam (1989) .... Ammu
5. Aksharathettu
   Aksharathettu
   Aksharathettu is a 1989 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi, starring Suresh Gopi, Mukesh, Jagathy Sreekumar, and Urvasi. The movie is a remake of the Hollywood movie Fatal Attraction, starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close.-Plot:...
   
    (1989)
6. Mathu Kudayum Choodi (1989)
7. Mazhavil Kavadi (1989) .... Velayudhankutty's Mother
8. Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam (1989) .... Mariyamma
9. Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal
   Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal
   Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal is a 1989 Malayalam film directed by Kamal and written by Ranjith. The film stars Jayaram and Parvathi. Mohanlal makes a cameo role.-Plot:...
   
    (1989) .... Devaki
10. Ulsavapittennu
    Ulsavapittennu
    Ulsavapittennu is a 1989 Malayalam Indian film by Bharath Gopi and featuring Mohanlal, Parvathy and Sukumaran. The film was one of the few directorial ventures of Bharath Gopi and featured a strong performance from Mohanlal in the lead role.- Plot :...
    
     (1989) .... Kalyaniyamma
11. Unnikrishnante Adyathe Christmas (1989) .... Aliyamma
12. Mukthi (1988) .... Madhaviyamma
13. Anantaram (1987) .... Yoginiyamma
14. Thaniyavartanam (1987)
15. Achuvettante Veedu (1987) .... Vipin's Mother
16. Irupatham Noottandu (1987)
17. Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku (1986) .... Shanthamma
18. Iniyum Kurukshethram (1986) .... Gomathi
19. Sughamodevi (1986) .... Nandan's Mother
20. Karimpin Poovinakkare (1985) .... Bhadran's Mother
21. Makan Ente Makan (1985) .... Paruvamma
22. Adhyayam Onnu Muthal (1985) .... Lakshmi
23. Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki (1985) .... Sathyabhama
24. Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam (1985) .... Janakikutty
25. Adiyozhukkukal (1984) .... Mariyamma
26. Ariyatha Veethikal (1984) .... Janakiyamma
27. Kanamarayathu (1984) .... Mother Superior
28. Lakshmana Rekha (1984)
29. Swanthamevide Bandhamevide (1984) .... Lakshmi
30. Marakkillorikkalum (1983) .... Sharada
31. Balloon (1982)
32. Thrishna (1981) .... Chinnammu
33. Agnisaram
    Agnisaram
    Agnisaram is an Indian film in Malayalam language by A. B. Raj starring Jayan, Jose Prakash, and Jayabharathi.-Soundtrack:...
    
     (1981)
34. Orikkal Koodi (1981) .... Chandran's Mother
35. Love in Singapore (1980) .... Premachandran's Mother
36. Karimpana (1980)
37. Manushya Mrugam (1980) .... Babu's Mother

1960s–70s

1. Cheriyachante Kroora Krithyangal (1979)
2. Mamangam (1979) .... Chathunni's Mother
3. Eeta (1978)
4. Rathi Nirvedham (1978)
5. Acharam Ammini Osaram Omana (1977) .... Dakshayani
6. Kodiyettam (1977) .... Kamalamma
7. Devi Kanyakumari (1974) .... Old lady
8. Nellu (1974) .... Savithri
9. Nirmalayam
   Nirmalayam
   Nirmalyam is a 1973 Malayalam film written and directed by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring P. J. Antony and Shanta Devi. Malayalam actor P. J. Antony won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1974 for his performance as a velichappadu in this movie...
   
   (1973) .... Velichapad's Wife
10. Nadhi (1969) .... Thresia
11. Anveshichu Kandethiyilla (1967)